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Uber Picks CEO With Deep Ties To Silicon Valley To Replace Kalanick

REUTERS/Lucas Jackson (UNITED STATES - Tags: BUSINESS TRAVEL) - RTR2APKA

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Jack Crowe Political Reporter
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Uber’s board of executives selected Iranian immigrant and former Expedia CEO Dara Khosrowshahi to take over as chief executive of the embattled ride share giant Sunday, according to Recode.

Khosrowshahi, who has led Expedia since 2005, takes the helm at Uber in the wake of a disruptive investigation into the company’s culture that was launched in response to multiple sexual harassment lawsuits against Uber’s male executives. Former Uber CEO and founder Travis Kalanick was ousted following the investigation’s conclusion after five board members sent Kalanick a letter demanding his immediate resignation. (RELATED: Uber CEO Resigns After Shareholders Revolt)

The new hire represents the conclusion of a months-long battle between Kalanick, who retained his board seat, and Benchmark Capital, an investor group that controls substantial Uber shares and is currently suing Kalanick for fraud, breach of fiduciary duty and breach of contract. Khosrowshahi’s selection is reportedly the result of a truce between Benchmark, which backed HPE chief Meg Whitman, and Kalanick.

While Khosrowshahi is not himself a Silicon Valley resident, he has deep family ties to the valley, with six family members who are either extremely successful tech entrepreneurs or executives at massive tech firms like Google.

GE chief executive Jeff Immelt was also among the finalists being considered to head Uber until Immelt removed himself from consideration Sunday after learning he lacked the requisite support on the board.

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